Okayyyy okay, so crop tops aren't exactly uncharted territory when it comes to festival style (see: Coachella 2012), but just put down the Haterade and hear us out for a second. The fact that Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Rita Ora, and Jessie J ALL wore them at Wireless Festival is most definitely worth talking about. These four lovely ladies are each champions of a unique personal steez AND YET each performance powerhouse implemented the midriff-baring look (which BTW hasn't seen this sort of heyday since Britney Spearspublicly hit puberty) on stage this weekend. Also, some of the most eye-buggingly crazy print-on-print combinations we've seen to date. There's something going on here. Let's dissect.

Mixed prints are a HUGE trend this spring/summer that's only going to be an even bigger deal come fall. Usually the patterns are pretty balanced - a bold-ish graphic that's off-set by a daintier one, both in similar, harmonious color palettes. That's certainly not the case here. These prints are, in a word, extreme. As they should be because who holds back on an outdoor stage performing for a bajillion people? Answer: no one. There's no room for that when you're charged with commanding a platform that's more than 8 times your wingspan.

What we find so interesting about the way these ladies piece their outfits together is the way these crop tops and bold graphics are actually working together. In a way, the panel of solid MIDRIFF SKIN (compromised by nothing, save maybe a renegade belly button) acts as a unifier, calming the crazy of the rest of the outfit. In a weird way, the bare bellies actually tone the looks down. Kind of like a reeeeally wide, waist-cinching belt. But it's your own waist. What do you think of Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Rita Ora, and Jessie J's Wireless Festival performance outfits?

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